Chapter 74

For the first two or three seconds, Xiao Ziyu's mind was blank. The live broadcast was not turned off, so that means the moment he called Yuan Heng was also recorded.

The fans in the live broadcast room were also confused:

"What the hell, what's going on?"

"I think I heard Yuyu calling Teacher Yuan?"

"Yuyu just said that she was at home, so the two of them...are living together?"

"Maybe they're just good friends visiting casually, don't think too much about it."

"But I've never heard any junior call Teacher Yuan's name in that tone!"

Yuan Heng was far away from the camera, so his words were not recorded in the live broadcast room, but Xiao Ziyu still jumped up from where he was. His legs were no longer numb, and he looked panicked as if a disaster was about to happen: "You were photographed."

There was no need for entertainment reporters to follow him, he just revealed all the information himself. Xiao Ziyu said frustratedly: "I'm not familiar with live broadcasting, I thought I could just turn off Weibo."

"Don't worry," Yuan Heng said, "the company will follow up."

As soon as he finished speaking, Luo Li called: "Brother Xiao!"

It was Xiao Ziyu’s first live broadcast, and he watched the entire show. The whole thing went very smoothly, but unexpectedly, Xiao Ziyu dropped a bombshell at the last minute.

When Xiao Ziyu called out Teacher Yuan's name, his heart stopped briefly and he almost suspected that he had heard it wrong.

After answering the phone, he paused for a while before asking, "Brother Xiao, are you with Teacher Yuan now?"

Xiao Ziyu held the phone: "Yeah."

"Didn't you say you were at home?" Luo Li asked tentatively, "In the Blue Sea?"

Xiao Ziyu closed his eyes, knowing that the truth could no longer be concealed. He had previously told Luo Li that he and his girlfriend lived in Blue Sea, and no matter how stupid that guy was, there was no way he would not be able to react.

He took a deep breath and said, "Yes, I am with Teacher Yuan."

There was a bang from the other side, and Luo Li was so shocked that he threw his phone directly to the ground.

The phone was on speakerphone, and Luo Li's clear and trembling voice came out: "Brother Xiao, you, the old sponsor you told me about before, is it actually Teacher Yuan?"

Yuan Heng on the side raised his eyebrows: "So this is how you introduced me."

Xiao Ziyu answered in one breath: "That's right."

"Teacher Yuan isn't old," Luo Li pondered, and immediately his manager's accomplishments took over. He quickly said, "Brother Xiao, explain to your fans on Weibo first, saying that it's just a visit from friends. I'll discuss countermeasures with my master."

After hanging up the phone, Xiao Ziyu opened Weibo, and the popularity of him and Yuan Heng continued to soar. But neither of them can be considered traffic-type artists, and the discussions among fans are relatively rational.

"Yuyu originally belonged to Yuantai, so it doesn't seem strange for him to be with Teacher Yuan."

"You have to accompany me during the live broadcast? It doesn't seem like an ordinary superior-subordinate relationship."

"They are actors, just focus on their work and don't speculate on their lives."

A few minutes later, Xiao Ziyu sent a Weibo post:

Thank you all for your attention. Teacher Yuan is not only my superior, but also a good friend. Today is my first live broadcast. There are many things I don’t understand, so I came to Teacher Yuan for guidance. The result is still due to my lack of proficiency in operation. Please understand the inconvenience caused.

Yuan Heng held the man in his arms and watched him type the simplified Chinese characters one by one. This doesn't seem like a rumor-refuting statement, but rather a generous statement of facts and clarification of attitude. He and Yuan Heng are no longer in a superior-subordinate relationship in the company, but rather friends who can seek help during breaks.

Yuan Heng pinched the thin and soft side of her waist: "If you do this, they might misunderstand that we have a special relationship."

Xiao Ziyu raised his eyelids and said in an official tone: "So Mr. Yuan thinks that we have an ordinary relationship."

Yuan Heng felt so depressed that he lowered his voice unconsciously: "I can make it public now."

Xiao Ziyu raised his hand and hit him, saying four words: "Step by step."

The two of them live together, eat and live together, so it is impossible for them not to reveal some clues. Even if something really happens in the future, the audience will have some buffer space.

Yuan Heng understood what he meant, clicked to forward it, and commented: Take it step by step.

It was not only an encouragement for his unskilled live broadcasting skills, but also a secret response to what Xiao Ziyu said. Xiao Ziyu had something to hide, and he felt guilty about everything he saw. He hesitated and said, "Don't be so obvious."

Shortly after the Weibo post was published, Zheng Hong also called and asked about Yuan Heng’s attitude in order to control the direction of public opinion.

"Handle it flexibly," Yuan Heng said, "I wanted to take this opportunity to make it public, but someone stopped me."

Zheng Hong and Yuan Heng have known each other for so many years. When he first met Xiao Ziyu, he felt something was fishy. After a moment of silence, he said, "I was wondering why you suddenly accepted the guest role on Xunsu. It turns out that you were dating at public expense."

Yuan Heng originally wanted to date at public expense, but ended up running into a plagiarism incident, which made him very upset. He laughed and said, "Even if I don't answer, I have to go in that situation."

Yuan Heng seldom accepted interviews or appeared on TV shows, and he rarely appeared in front of the camera after leaving the entertainment industry. Zheng Hong paused and said, "Will you return to the big screen one day?"

Yuan Heng stretched out his long legs and replied jokingly, "Maybe."

With the guidance of Yuantai Culture's Public Relations Department, the topic gradually changed from the secrets of cohabitation to socialist brotherhood. The square was full of people wishing the two a long-lasting friendship, and CP fans even celebrated the New Year on the spot.

Xiao Ziyu put down his phone, turned to look at Yuan Heng, and asked seriously: "Will you make movies again in the future?"

Yuan Heng was able to play a roundabout way when facing Zheng Hong, and he was more frank when looking at Xiao Ziyu: "Not necessarily. Being a president is very busy."

Xiao Ziyu said firmly: "You like acting very much."

He had seen Yuan Heng's explosiveness and infectiousness in front of the camera. If he didn't like him, he would definitely not have played a villain like Lin Buwei so well.

"Then I will work hard," Yuan Heng bit his lip lightly, leaving a careful tooth mark with his canine teeth, as if making some kind of promise, "I will strive to be on the screen with you one day."

The sun was setting and no one turned on the lights. The two leaned against each other and selected the script sent by Luo Li.

"Movies and online dramas are very different," Yuan Heng said. "Every tiny detail on the big screen will be infinitely magnified, the advantages become mediocre, and the shortcomings become unbearable."

"I still want to give it a try," Xiao Ziyu said in a straightforward voice, "If I can see the shortcomings, it means there is still room for improvement."

Yuan Heng did not restrict him in the general direction, and picked out a few movie scripts: "It depends on what type of role you want to play, suspense, art, or comedy and daily life."

Filming is of course about experiencing life that you have never experienced before. Xiao Ziyu said: "I want to play a unique role."

In the end, the two chose a reality-oriented film, in which Xiao Ziyu played the role of a mute.

Being mute means having no lines, and all the acting is in the eyes. In order to adapt himself to the role as quickly as possible, Xiao Ziyu immerses himself in gestures at home every day.

One day, Yuan Heng came back from the company and passed by the glass door of the supermarket downstairs. He caught a glimpse of a handsome and familiar silhouette.

Blue Ocean's supporting supermarket mainly sells imported goods. Even the cabbages are airlifted from Japan at more than 200 yuan per head. Since it only serves residents in the community, there are not many management personnel and self-service check-out machines can be seen everywhere.

At this time, Xiao Ziyu was standing in front of the only manual checkout machine, trying to express something.

Yuan Heng's entry into the glass door did not attract his attention. He stood behind Xiao Ziyu and understood what he meant: Xiao Ziyu wanted to buy a lollipop from the back of the shelf.

There was a middle-aged man standing behind the checkout machine, playing Douyin with some impatience. He picked one from the shelf and handed it to him.

Xiao Ziyu was not impatient at all. He knocked on the counter, motioning the man to look at him. Then he waved his hand, handed the lollipop back, and continued to point to the grape-flavored one on the shelf.

"Disabled?" The man finally turned off TikTok, looked at him curiously, and muttered, "He doesn't look stupid, so how did you become disabled? Your family didn't come?"

Xiao Ziyu stared at him stubbornly, his eyes full of determination, but still said nothing.

"I'm afraid of you," the man said, opening the door in front of the counter: "Come in and choose for yourself."

The residents of Blue Sea are either rich or noble. If this little mute is the son of someone's family, it would be difficult for him to offend him.

Xiao Ziyu squeezed into the counter, took the grape-flavored lollipop he wanted, and lowered his head to pay with his mobile phone.

After he turned to leave, the man belatedly opened Tik Tok and saw the latest recommendation for a good drama. He muttered to himself, "This little mute looks a bit like a celebrity."

Before he could finish one line, another tall and straight figure stood in front of the counter. The man recognized him and smiled immediately: "Mr. Yuan, you haven't been here for a long time. What do you want to buy today?"

Yuan Heng pointed to the shelf: "That one."

"Which one?" The man turned around immediately. "You want a lollipop too? Grape flavor or cola flavor?"

"Pack everything and take it away," Yuan Heng said.

He caught up with Xiao Ziyu in the elevator, holding a bag of candy. The latter opened his eyes slightly and said, "Did you see everything?"

Yuan Heng didn't comfort him, but asked directly: "Is it hard?"

"It's OK. I expected that." Xiao Ziyu slowly peeled the lollipop and ate it. "If it wasn't in the Blue Ocean Import Supermarket, but a street store, it might be more difficult."

Yuan Heng lowered his eyes and pushed his long hair behind his ears. "The Jade Case" concluded today. There was a heated discussion in the square. The real-time topic was on the hot search several times. The ratings remained high. However, one of the protagonists turned down all interviews and business and pretended to be mute in a small supermarket.

"I heard that the main creators are having a party in Yunjing tonight, why aren't you going?" Yuan Heng asked.

Although Xiao Ziyu remained silent online, he was still very arrogant in private: "It's not an awards ceremony. If there was an awards ceremony, I would go."

"Not necessarily," Yuan Heng conservatively estimated, "Maybe he can really win the Best Actor award."

"What award did you win for your first work that year?" Xiao Ziyu asked.

Yuan Heng: "The best actor of an international award."

Seeing the other party lowering his eyes and not saying anything, he pinched Xiao Ziyu's earlobe and said, "Why, do you want to surpass me?"

The elevator dinged and stopped. Xiao Ziyu held the lollipop in his mouth and pointed at him with the stick: "Is it not possible, Your Highness?"

"Of course, Lord Wang Jun." Yuan Heng grabbed the stick and gently pulled the man into his arms, "I'll wait for you to hit me with the little golden man."